U.S. patent number 3,628,196 [Application Number 04/869,019] was granted by the patent office on 1971-12-21 for flexible chemical toilet.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Outboard Marine Corporation. Invention is credited to Gaylord M. Borst, Ronald G. Quiram.
United States Patent |
3,628,196 |
Quiram , et al. |
December 21, 1971 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
FLEXIBLE CHEMICAL TOILET
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a recirculating marine toilet including a
bowl having a discharge outlet, a flexible container containing
chemically treated fluid located to receive waste fluid from the
outlet, a flexible filter screen separating the flexible container
into a first compartment for waste fluid and a second compartment
for filtered fluid, and a recirculating pump in the second
compartment to pump the chemically treated filtered fluid from the
second compartment to the bowl to flush waste through the outlet
into the first compartment. A vacuum discharge port and an
overboard discharge can be provided from the first compartment for
removal of waste fluid from the container.
Inventors: |
Quiram; Ronald G. (Michigan
City, IN), Borst; Gaylord M. (Galesburg, IL) |
Assignee: |
Outboard Marine Corporation
(Waukegan, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
25352786 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/869,019 |
Filed: |
October 24, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/318;
210/167.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D
5/016 (20130101); Y02A 50/30 (20180101); Y02A
50/456 (20180101) |
Current International
Class: |
E03D
5/016 (20060101); E03D 5/00 (20060101); A47k
011/02 (); B63b 017/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;4/99,110,111,112,113,114,115,119 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
996,370 |
|
Jun 1965 |
|
GB |
|
1,485,683 |
|
May 1967 |
|
FR |
|
141,696 |
|
Oct 1930 |
|
CH |
|
Primary Examiner: Rothberg; Samuel B.
Assistant Examiner: Massenberg; Donald B.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A toilet comprising a bowl having a discharge outlet, a flexible
container for receiving flush fluid through said outlet from said
bowl and including a flexible filter for filtering the flush fluid
in said container, and means communicating with said bowl and with
said container for pumping the resultant filtered fluid from said
container back into said bowl.
2. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said filter separates said
container into a first compartment for flush fluid and a second
compartment for filtered fluid.
3. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said filter comprises a
fine mesh plastic screen.
4. A toilet according to claim 3 wherein said screen is made from a
vinyl plastic.
5. A toilet according to claim 3 including means for discharging
fluid from said container.
6. A recirculating toilet comprising a toilet bowl having a
discharge outlet, a flexible container depending from said bowl and
adapted to contain a chemically treated fluid, filter means for
separating said container into a first compartment communicating
with said discharge outlet and a second compartment, sand means for
pumping fluid from said second compartment into said bowl to flush
waste from said bowl into said first compartment.
7. A toilet according to claim 6 wherein said filter means
comprises a flexible filter screen.
8. A toilet in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pumping means
is located in said container.
9. A toilet in accordance with claim 6 wherein said pumping means
is located in said container.
10. A toilet in accordance with claim 9 wherein said pumping means
is located in said container second compartment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Strict pollution laws require waste containers in substantially all
boats. Generally available marine toilets have rigid containers
which are not readily adaptable to the contour of and space
available in many boats, and particularly smaller boats.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The recirculating marine toilet of this invention is provided with
a flexible waste fluid container which can readily adapt to the
contour of and the space available in the bottom of a boat. The
toilet includes a bowl having a discharge outlet with the flexible
fluid container located to receive waste fluid from the discharge
outlet of the bowl. The fluid in the container is chemically
treated and is filtered prior to recirculation by a flexible filter
screen which separates the container into a waste fluid compartment
and a filtered fluid compartment. The bowl is flushed by pumping
filtered fluid from the filtered fluid compartment into the bowl.
The waste fluid from the bowl is discharged through the outlet and
into the waste fluid compartment in the container. Fluid to be
recirculated passes through the filter screen recirculating into
the filtered fluid compartment for recirculation. The flexible
container is also capable of responding to surging of fluids in the
container and to gas expansion without any adverse effects on the
container and reduces stresses normally produced by such forces on
the seals. The filter screen is automatically cleaned by the
reverse flow of filtered fluid through the screen upon removal of
the contents of the waste fluid compartment.
Other objects and advantage will become apparent from the following
detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying
drawings in which a cross-sectional view is shown of the
rcirculating chemical toilet located in a boat.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The recirculating marine toilet of this invention generally
includes a set 10 having a cover 12 both of which are hingedly
mounted on a top panel 14 for an enclosure 16 formed by sidewall
panels 18. Access to the enclosure 16 is provided by hingedly
connecting the top panel 14 to one one of the sidewall panels 18 by
means of hinges 20. The enclosure can be of any shape and is closed
at the bottom by the sloping surface of the bottom of the boat. A
bow 22 is secured to the seat 10, depending downwardly therefrom
within the enclosure, and includes an annular flange 23, nozzle 24
and a discharge outlet 25.
In accordance with the invention, means are provided within the
enclosure 16 to receive the waste fluid discharged from the outlet
25 in the bowl. Such means is in the form of a flexible bag or
container 32 secured to the underside of the annular flange 23 of
the bowl 22. The flexibility of the bag or container readily
affords conformance to the shape of the interior of the enclosure
16 and to the sloping contour at the bottom of the boat.
The container 32 is filled with a slush fluid such as water which
is chemically treated with one of the standard treating liquid. As
an example, a Monochem T5 chemical can be used which is made by
Monogram Industry, Inc. of Culver City, Calif. The chemically
treated fluid is pumped into the bowl to flush waste through the
outlet by means of a submersible electrically actuated pump 26
connected to the nozzle 24 in the bowl by a flexible conduit 28.
The nozzle 24 is arranged to direct fluid in both directions around
the upper portion of the bowl 22. The pump 26 is immersed in the
fluid within the container 32 to recirculate chemically treated
fluid from the container 32 to the bowl 22.
The fluid to be recirculated is filtered prior to recirculation by
means of a flexible filter screen 34 provided in the container 32.
The screen is made from a fine mesh such as vinyl plastic and is
welded or otherwise suitably connected to the sides and bottom of
the bag or container 32 to separate the container into a first
compartment 36 for waste fluid and a second compartment 38 for
filtered flush fluid. The flexible filter screen can also be used
in any shape enclosure. In addition, the flexibility of the filter
material affords use of a greater filtering area than would be the
case with a rigid filter. In addition, the flexible filter can
shift to accommodate varying loads.
The flexible container 32 can be emptied at a pump-out station by
means of a vacuum discharge tube 60 connected to a conduit 52
connected to the container 32 or through an overboard discharge
system 50 including the conduit 52 and which terminates in a port
54 in the hull 56 of the boat. Waste fluid can be pumped overboard
from the container by means of a manually actuated pump 58
connected to the conduit 52. One or both systems can be used. The
screen 34 is automatically cleaned by the reverse flow of filtered
fluid from the second compartment 38 into the first compartment 36
when the waste fluid is removed from the container.
Means are provided for actuating the pump 26 in the form of a
switch 62 connected to an electrical power source in the boat and
to an electric circuit for the pump 26. The switch 62 is located at
a convenient position in the panel 14. A timer can be provided in
the pump circuit to control the duration of operation of the
pump.
Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the
following claims:
* * * * *